Mitsubishi has built plenty of Mitsubishi cars since it was established in 1917. The Mitsubishi Motors first introduced Mitsubishi Model A cars, Japan’s first series-production automobile. From then they don’t really have to look back. They built many great Mitsubishi cars over the century. Among them, followings are considered as the greatest cars Mitsubishi has ever added to its fleet.

1. Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4

Source: Mitsubishi Motors

Mitsubishi 3000GT VR – 4 was the best of all models Mitsubishi ever built. It is one of the greatest Japanese sports cars of all time. It was known as the GTO in Japan. It was a 300 HP beast with AWD and twin – turbo that could speed up from 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds! The active years of this supercar were 1990 to 2001.

2. Mitsubishi Eclipse

Source: Mitsubishi Motors

The Mitsubishi Eclipse debuted in 1989. It was a replacement of Starion and it lasted for a couple of decades. It was a 195-horsepower AWD monster that could speed up from 0 to 60 in only 7 seconds. The monster car was disappeared in 2012 after the fourth generation, but by then the glory days of Eclipse were long behind it.

3.Mitsubishi Outlander

The Mitsubishi Outlander remains as the only survivor since the discontinuation of the EVO Lancer. It is the best budget friendly Mitsubishi car that is currently in 3rd generation and doesn’t show any sign of stopping. It was debuted in 2001. Outlander offers different power depending on its compact size. The Mitsubishi Outlander is the best choice if you are looking for a compact crossover.

4.Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR

Toshifuni Kitamura/AFP/Getty Images

The Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR has been a rally winner since it was born in 1973. It has been won Africa’s Safari Rally two times and Australia’s Souther Cross Rally four times. It has earned the African nickname “King of Cars”. It had the 4-cylinder and 169, 108, 98 horsepower versions of the engine. It was discontinued in 1976.

Mitsubishi Motors has come to its peak of success after the long journey they have made throughout the century. Mitsubishi has built some of the greatest sports cars ever. We all know the glory of Mitsubishi’s in the World Rally Championship over the years. There are much more on Mitsubishi cars that the car enthusiasts love the most. It would be a great decision if you choose to buy your dream car from the largest fleet of Mitsubishi motors at Chadstone Mitsubishi.

Mitsubishi Motors is without a doubt one of the biggest automotive companies and is an instantly recognizable brand just about anywhere in the world. One of many divisions of the larger Mitsubishi brand, Mitsubishi Motors remains one of the most important subsidiaries that bears the name. At times it’s interesting to go back and look at where big companies originated and how they got to be what they are today. Let’s take a look at the rich history of Mitsubishi Motors dating back to 1917.

The Mitsubishi company had been set up as a shipping specialist in 1870, operating in Toyko and soon diversifying out into other areas including coal mining and iron-milling. Closer to the turn of the century, the company had set itself up as an industry leading in a number of fields in manufacturing and commerce from steel and glass to banking and insurance. The rise of the company during this period was quite profound, to say the least.

It wasn’t until 1917 that the company produced its first automobile, the Mitsubishi Model A. Looking back, the move into the automotive industry seemed inevitable with the company already active in related fields of production. There were a total of 22 Mitsubishi Model A vehicles built, all of which were handmade. Given the high costs of production compared to the competition, it was discontinued after just 4 years. In 1937 the company produced a four-wheel drive passenger sedan, but it wasn’t until well after the second world war (which took its toll on Japanese industry) that the company found its niche.

The mass-market sedan Mitsubishi 500 was released in 1953, a time when wages were rising and demand for family motor vehicles was on the rise. Over the next 11 years, two other vehicles were produced including Minica kei car, Colt 1000 and the Mitsubishi Debonair, a larger luxury car. Within a few years, demand was extremely high with 70,000 vehicles being produced annually. The success continued with the various model being introduced until 1969 when the larger Mitsubishi company decided that a division that focused solely on the automotive industry should be created – and Mitsubishi Motors was officially born.

It’s quite an origin story and some may be surprised by just how old the Mitsubishi brand is. In fact, the logo that we all know so well today was put together around 1870, well before Mitsubishi Motors was made official. If you’re in the market for a vehicle or want to find out more about the Mitsubishi story, feel free to contact the friendly team at Chadstone Mitsubishi.

In this day and age, there’s no denying that it can be quite costly to keep a car on the road. There’s the car’s true cost, fuel, registration and regular servicing, not to mention changing any parts that may need replacing down the road. Whether you’re driving a Mitsubishi or any other brand of car, it’s well worthwhile to take car of your car from day one as best you can. It’s a fact that good maintenance will keep your car in working order for longer. It will also save you money in the long run and keep you safer on the road too. Let’s take a look at 5 essential car care tips.

Check the oil regularly

It’s something that only takes a couple of minutes, but it can’t be understated how important checking and changing oil is. Oil is responsible for keeping the engine well lubricated and cool, without which you’re going to have some real problems!

Keep it clean

If you value the cosmetic appearance of your vehicle, washing it weekly or fortnightly is a good idea. A build-up of dirt, salt and grime can potentially damage the exterior if left alone. It’s also a good idea to keep the underside as clean as possible. For new cars, you should consider applying wax every half year if possible; this keeps the paint in good health.

Park in the shade

When talking in the long term, the sun and rain can damage the exterior of your car as well. Preferably, you’ll want to avoid parking it in the street; if you have a garage or carport your car will be much better off. The paint, leather and other materials can easily be damaged by the sun, so any way you can reduce the impact is well worthy of your time.

Flush out the coolant yearly

The car’s cooling system is what circulates coolant around the engine and keeps it cool. Usually, it’s made up of 50% distilled water and 50% coolant and it prevents corrosion is it is changed regularly. Without it operating as it should, the engine is likely to overheat and potential even seize up, which, in many cases, means the end of it. Doing so will also reveal any bursts in the system that may be leaking coolant.

Service your car regularly

For the basic car servicing things, you can usually take care by yourself. But it’s of utmost importance that you have a professional inspect your vehicle every few thousand kilometers. How regularly you will need it serviced will vary from car to car, depending on age and other factors. Find yourself a good, trusty mechanic and your car will be in safe hands.

Mitsubishi is set to release a new hybrid, plug-in SUV concept car – the Ground Tourer Concept in Paris Motorshow 2016, somewhen around the month of September.
With some of the Japanese car manufacturer’s best recent releases being SUVs, including the Outlander and Outlander Sport, there is good reason to expect the new design model to impress.

Word is that the concept will borrow from the existing XR PHEV line and other concepts car showed off over the past year and is the latest step in Mitsubishi’s move to push for better hybrid technology and efficiency.

What is a plug-in hybrid?

A plug-in hybrid car is an electric vehicle designed to be extra energy efficient and environmentally friendly, without giving up too much in the way of power and general performance. Generally, these cars use rechargeable batteries that are plugged in before use and have an electric motor and a combustion engine, meaning they run on both petrol and electricity. It is estimated that the average electricity cost of charging the batteries works out to around 25% of what you’d pay if you used unleaded petrol.

There are already Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrids available in Australia, including the Outlander PHEV, which packs impressive 4WD power and performance, with a fuel economy rating of 1.9L/100kms. These kinds of cars have only over the past few years become commercially available to the public and the technology used continues to improve.

Coupe-style

The new look SUV is set to have a sharper appearance, with early images showing off a flat, sleek red roof with sharp edges over a shiny silver body. While we’re just going off a single photo, there are whispers that the SUV will be a high-end model and take the design of Mitsubishi’s existing SUVs in another direction.

Coupe SUVs in the market are largely considered luxury cars – indeed, if eventually released in Australia, this model will be seen as a viable competitor for some big players including Mercedes.

We shall be keeping a close eye on how this develops – we’re very excited to see the Ground Tourer Concept later in the year!

If you’re in the market for a new car in 2016, it’s always important to know your options in terms of how to finance the purchase. There are many ways to go about this, and the appropriate option depends on various factors including how much capital you have at your disposal. Make sure you think about the following options carefully.

Cash

If you have the money saved in the bank, this is the most cost effective way of making the purchase for a vehicle. Paying in cash directly out of your bank will essentially mean that you aren’t making repayments on the borrowed money and the transaction is finished at the point of sale.

Leasing

Buyer Leasing Car from a Dealer

This is an increasingly popular form of car financing. Leasing is essentially a long-term rental based on a contract for a certain period of time, during which monthly payments are made. There are various advantages that come from leasing. For one, it appeals to some buyers because after the lease is up, they can simply select a new model and start a new lease. It also means that the lessee doesn’t need to worry about the future value of the car and doesn’t have the responsibility of selling it as would someone who outright purchased a car. Lastly, monthly repayments are often lower than what you’d be paying on a car loan.

Bank Loan

A personal loan from a bank or another financial body is usually paid off between 1-10 years and requires that the buyer makes monthly repayments, which can be quite high compared to a leasing option. The benefit is of course that at the end of it all, you own the car and when you take into accounts its value, you likely wind up paying less in comparison to other monthly repayment options.

Auto Loan

Car dealers also offer car loans that can be beneficial to buyers. There are various loans available depending on the dealer. A secured loan is quite common and requires that you offer collateral against the loan in the case that you can’t pay it. A simple interest loan is also a good option given that the interest is calculated according to what remains owed. This gives you an incentive to pay off the loan more quickly.

Credit Card

This is generally not a good option given that many car dealers charge extra fees on top of the interest you’ll be paying on your monthly repayments. This does, however, offer you extra protection in some cases if things go pear-shaped with the dealer.

Always remember to speak to your accountant/financial advisor or at least discuss your options with the car dealership when you’re discussing the terms of sale. Selecting the appropriate car financing option is very important and can bring many benefits to you as the buyer. To get exclusive Mitsubishi finance deals in Melbourne speak to the experts in Chadstone Mitsubishi today. Our team will look into all your matters and will provide the best solution for your car purchase.

We all know that taking good care of your vehicle will help ensure that it runs smooth and negates the risk of having any expensive repairs made down the road. But did you know that many people ignore some of the most important aspects of having a professional service done? Mitsubishi service centres are the ideal place to have your vehicle checked out, and with the following 9 common servicing procedures that many people ignore, you too can prolong your vehicle’s life.

1. Tyre Rotation

Each time you have your car serviced, having your tyres rotated is one great way to increase the longevity of your tyres, and help you save money over a longer period of time. Every 5,000 to 8,000km is recommended and some tyre manufacturers even offer free tyre rotation as part of their warranty, so there is often no additional fees.

2. Engine Cleaning

Whilst you may wash your car from time to time to get rid of the dirt and grime on the exterior of your vehicle, getting the engine cleaned has a number of great benefits that your car mechanic will explain. Removing the dirt, grime and tar-like substance from your car’s engine will help avoid the engine overheating, as the sludge acts like a thermal coat, keeping the exposed metal work of the engine from dissipating heat effectively.

3. Coolant Maintenance

Any car repair centre will tell you that coolant or antifreeze will break down over time and start to have negative effects on your vehicle. When the coolant breaks down inside the small pipes and tubes around your engine, this issue can rack up very large bills if not taken care of. Your Mitsubishi service centre car mechanic will be able to change the coolant and flush the system professionally as part of a long-term servicing plan.

4. Transmission Maintenance

As one of the hardest working parts of your vehicle, the transmission needs to be taken care of on a regular basis. Transmission fluid needs to be replaced roughly every 40,000km, but if your vehicle is used to tow items on a regular basis, the fluid replacement will need to be performed much sooner. Many servicing mechanics recommend synthetic transmission oil, but you should always check your user manual or car servicing professional about your particular make and model.

5. Fuel and Oil Filter Change

If you have a clogged fuel or oil filter you may notice a significant reduction in performance and fuel efficiency that could keep on costing you money until the blocked filters start more issues. Filters in the HVAC systems need to be changed on a regular basis for good reason, but every vehicle can benefit from improved fuel efficiency, so get yours checked out as part of your overall maintenance and servicing schedule.

6. Get your Oil Changed

Getting your oil changed is usually part of a standard servicing procedure, but why wait until the last minute to have your oil changed? Making sure that you change your oil as frequently as possible will ensure that your oil doesn’t go bad or start to mess with your vehicles fuel efficiency.

7. Get an Extended Warranty

If you purchased your vehicle from a specialist dealer, you can sometimes also pay for an extended warranty to allow your car to be covered for parts and servicing over a short or long period of time, depending on the available options. Servicing at a Mitsubishi service centre is a great way to ensure that all parts are genuine and directly from the manufacturer, as well as having the confidence that the car mechanics working on your vehicle are well informed on your make and model of vehicle.

8. Flush all Fluids

As per the recommendations to change your oil, transmission oil and coolant on a bi-yearly or yearly basis depending on your make and model of car, getting all of the vehicle’s fluids professionally flushed, serviced and topped up is highly recommended as any servicing procedure. Power steering fluids, brake fluids are added to the list of transmission fluid, coolant as well as your water level system flushed to descale it.

9. Wheel Alignment

Getting your vehicle’s wheels aligned is a great way to ensure that you minimise the risks of wearing out certain parts of your tyres, reducing fuel efficiency, and making sure that your vehicle is safe to drive without steering issues. Most servicing centres offer wheel alignment as part of their basic service but be sure to tell the mechanic if you have any issues with steering or veering when accelerating and coasting.

Being described as the world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV, the new Outlander PHEV is to be released in Australia in mid-2016 due to higher-than-expected demand in foreign markets including the Netherlands and the UK. The Mitsubishi Outlander 2015 model sold consistently worldwide, particularly in the UK and Australia, and early reports are suggesting that we’ll be seeing their numbers eclipsed by 2016’s offering. Improvements have been made across the board, most notably to the car’s performance.

Efficiency

True to form, Mitsubishi has made a strong effort to focus on improving the energy efficiency of the PHEV, after all, the target market is essentially looking for this when they go for a hybrid.

The 4D waggon will be considerably more efficient than the previous model. How efficient? With fully charged batteries, the PHEV gets 1.8L/100km. This basically means that over reasonably short distances (going to work and back every day), you’re unlikely to use up any fuel whatsoever. That said, simply fueling up before a drive to a holiday destination or even road-trip, will have you making the trip comfortably. The PHEV is both a city-friendly family vehicle or a something to load up and take with you on week’s getaway.

This makes it particularly practical for just about any lifestyle, which is possibly why it is appealing to more consumers than expected in the early going overseas.

Performance

A positive is that this improved efficiency across the board has not necessarily come at the cost of power. A 2.0-liter petrol engine links to the front wheels and with 87kW behind it the SUV packs more than enough punch for its intended purpose.

But the real improvements have come in the form of handling, with tweaks made to the front and back suspension. This not only improves steering response but makes driving along hilly country roads, pebble streets of dirt tracks more smooth and far more forgiving. It also means things are less noisy in the cabin, which was a criticism that was made about 2015‘s model.

While it’s not exactly the quickest car in its class, the Outlander has decent acceleration up to 100km/h and power will always deliver what is expected.

Interior

Mitsubishi has taken various shortcomings pointed out about past models to heart and understandably looked to improve these. One such improvement is the interior which has abandoned its understated style and gone for a more luxurious look. As discussed, there has been a strong focus on improving comfort inside by reducing sounds from wind, suspension and the like. Sound proofing additions have been made as well as anti-vibration material added; in combination with an improved suspension, this makes for a much more relaxed ride.

Keep an eye out for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, sure to be one of the most popular releases in 2016 and certainly an upgrade over the previous model. For information about the full range of Mitsubishi’s vehicles available now or to book a test drive, speak to the friendly team at Chadstone Mitsubishi today!